Calling the North Pole

Christmas Eve seems hard for kids. The excitement of knowing that Santa is coming and wondering if he will be bringing you what you asked for makes it hard for kids to settle down and just relax. Well, today was hard for Gabby and she was really acting out. We threatened her that Santa was watching and wouldn't come if she wasn't good, but it didn't work. I really wanted it to sink in, so I told her that I was calling Santa on the phone and telling him not to come. She was really upset, but I think wondering if I would really call him.
I dialed a number that I have memorized in Nauvoo, Illinois and asked to speak to Santa Clause. I explained to "Santa" that Gabby was acting up and didn't know if he should come to our house and asked if he would like to talk to her. He said that he would and I handed the phone to Gabby.
She said, "hello," and her eyes got really wide as "Santa" started talking to her. He asked what she wanted for Christmas and she told him polly pocket princesses. He said that he would bring them to her if she would give me a hug and a kiss and tell me she was sorry and if she was good for the rest of the day. After he told her that and she said that she would be good she said, "I love you, Santa!" She had the biggest grin on her face the whole time and was thrilled to be talking to Santa.
It worked!!! She was an absolute angel the rest of the day and was telling everyone at Darin and Sue's house tonight how she got to talk to Santa on the phone.
Santa called back after a few minutes just to make sure that Gabby really was getting what she said that she wanted. She is getting polly pocket princesses for sure! Thank you so much Santa for helping out the situation and making my wild child wonderful for the rest of Christmas Eve! I think this will be a new tradition for us in the next years to come!
Merry Christmas!!

Blessings Come

I was just thinking today about how blessed I am. I don't say anything to brag, only to show my gratitude for all that I have.

For a few months Bump and I have been discussing our finances and wondering if we will be forever living with his parents, or if we will ever find something of our own. In discussing our options we kept thinking about finding a second job. It's something that is hard to think about because if he gets a second job he will never see the kids, and they love to spend time with their dad so much! So, I began looking for something that I could do in the evenings while Bump is home with the kids. I actually applied and interviewed for a position with the Red Cross working evenings in a lab. When I got home that night and discussed it with Bump I just couldn't feel good about working full-time even if it was in the evenings. Maybe if it were only a few nights a week or something it would have been better, but the more we thought about it the worse things felt and I didn't take the job.

Well, after making that decision within days Bump found out that a position that he has been hoping for at work was going to be available and he would most likely get it. I knew right away that we had made the right decision and the Lord was blessing us for that decision. He signed the offer letter yesterday and will be getting a nice raise with it starting Monday.

The world that we live in today is a two income world. Bump and I made a decision when we got married that I would stay home with the kids and he would work. It seems more and more like the whole world is against the decision that we made, but we are being blessed for it. Believe me we will still be incredibly tight, but it gives me hope that we might actually be able to get a budget together and plan for a home in the next year.

I know that the decisions that we have made don't make sense to most people. I mean, what's the big deal if I work nights as long as Bump can be with the kids?? The answer to me is that it's not just about the kids. I love my husband and I would hate to only really spend time with him on the weekends. We rely on each other and love being together. I wouldn't be the same person without his constant influence in my life. So, until the time comes when we really have no other choice but to get another job - I am grateful for all that the Lord is doing to help us to keep afloat.

I'm glad today is over!

I need to start out by saying that this has been a crazy weekend!! We started it by going to the Tabernacle Christmas Concert on Thursday night - it was awesome. It didn't compare to last year's Sissle concert with the Tab Choir, but the Kings Singers were still awesome! Thank you Jared and Casi for watching our kids for us!! You are too, too kind!
On Friday Tera came down and we hung out together working on Christmas stuff and then I packed up the kids and we headed out to Tracy's house to watch her kids over night. Today is Tracy and Steve's Anniversary and they went to Wendover, NV overnight so we got to "babysit." I put babysit in quotes, because we never have to do much with their kids. If anything they end up babysitting our kids much more than we babysit them! Saturday morning I drove our friend LeAnne Corey to the airport to catch her plane back to Vermont for Christmas. Then when Tracy and Steve got home we headed home to clean my disaster of a house and try to work on our talks for today. Yes, Bump and I spoke in church today, and poor Bump also had to teach in Elders Quorum.
Have you ever noticed how much the kids DO NOT cooperate when you really need to concentrate on something?? Well, they were absolutely wired all day and would not let us get any studying or preparation done for our talks and lesson. So, after we put them to bed and they finally fell asleep (hours later) we were able to study a bit and get something together for our talks.
There are some perks with living with your in-laws. This morning I sent the kids upstairs while I finished up my talk and got ready for church. They were so helpful and it was actually a nice study break for me.
Well, talks went well. Bump's lesson went well. The kids behaved, somewhat, for Grandma and Grandpa during sacrament meeting. And I am thrilled that it is over! The funny thing is that I said something about Dad in my talk and must have been talking about him being bishop in Nauvoo and I guess I used the name "Bishop Wright." I can't remember exactly what I said, but after my talk I had several older gentlemen from the ward come up and ask me if I was Dave Wright's daughter. I assume that most people know me, but we have combined wards with another ward and so those people don't really know my background. I have realized over the years how respected and liked Dad is, but I was reminded of that again today. Thanks, Dad for your good example! President Beers says hello, Bishop Terrell said hello also and told me that you were in the mission field together and a few others have had a chance to see you in Nauvoo over the last few years. I don't know what people got out of my talk, but they sure were impressed at who I was related to!!
Anyway, I never mind speaking in church, but after a busy weekend and trying to write talks with crazy children, I am glad that today is over!!

Cute Kids Pictures

We just got these pictures back from Target today. Cute huh?

Inexpensive neighbor gifts

So, I know that around this time of year I am always looking for something fun to give people at work or neighbors without spending a bunch of money. Well, I found some nice ideas that I thought were just marvelous and so I am sharing them with you.

1. To go with a package of M&M's (a big bag if you like the people, small if you just need to give them something) - here is the note:

As you hold these candies in your hand
And turn them you will see. . .
The M becomes a W, and E and a 3.
They tell the Christmas story
It's one I'm sure you know.
It took place in a stable
a long, long time ago.
The E is for East
where the star shone oh so bright.
The M is for Manger
where the baby Jesus slept that night.
The 3 is for the wise men
bearing gifts, they say they came.
W is for worship. Hallelujah,
Praise to his name.
So as you eat these candies
Or share them with a friend,
Remember the Spirit of Christmas,
And never let it end!

2. To go with Dove Chocolates - the saying goes:
"And I John, bear record, and lo, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Ghost descended upon Him in the form of a DOVE and sat upon Him, and there came a voice from Heaven saying: This is my beloved Son."
May we always have His Spirit to be with us. Merry Christmas.

3. To go with mints (any kind you want) - the saying goes:
Life is not measured by the "breaths" we take,
but by the moments that take our "breath" away.
May this Christmas be wonderfully sweet!

4. To go with little packets of tissues, or a whole box of them if you want a bigger gift - here is the story:

Keeping Baby Warm
by Lynda H. Laughlin

It was an inexpensive dime-store nativity set, and he was only three years old. His back was toward me, but I could see that his chubby little hands were busily working on something at the old table.
"What are you doing?" I asked him impatiently, annoyed at him for touching the decorations after he had been told not to. As I started toward the scene of his latest mischief, he turned toward me with wide blue eyes filling and a single tear started down his cherubic cheek. Then I saw it. A carefully folded tissue had been tenderly placed over the small ceramic infant.
"Baby Jesus was cold Mommy," he whispered.
Ten years have passed and the tiny Nativity has been replaced by a much larger one. But this year, as every year, I have found a carefully folded tissue covering the baby Jesus. I think I know who did it, and I hope he never stops.

Well, even if you have everyone already taken care of, at least these are nice thoughts to read to help get you in the Christmas Spirit! Merry Christmas!